In Hosea 14:4, there is a central verse in the liturgy of repentance: "Ashur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we call any more the work of our hands our gods: for in You the orphan finds mercy."
What is the connection between the parts of this verse, specifically:
Rejection of Idolatry: Why is the pinnacle of confession here phrased as a rejection of idolatry ("work of our hands") and reliance on military might ("Ashur/horses")? Most people confessing on Yom Kippur are not guilty of literal idolatry.
The Orphan Metaphor: How does the ending, "for in You the orphan finds mercy," relate to the beginning of the verse?
The Core Insight: The essence of sin is a sense of independent existence and reliance on false powers (the "work of our hands"). True Teshuva is the realization that a person has no support, no power, and no savior other than God. The sinner must feel like an "orphan"—totally dependent and devoid of other protectors—to truly return to Hashem.
The Role of Asking for Forgiveness (Bakashas Mechila)
The Standard Definition: According to the Rambam, the core components of Teshuva are Regret (Charata) and Resolving not to sin again (Kabbala l'haba).
The Missing Element: Where does the actual request for forgiveness (Bakashas Mechila) fit in. Is saying "I'm sorry, please forgive me" strictly necessary for the mitzvah, or is it enough to just stop sinning and regret the past?
Interpersonal Analogy: In sins between man and man (Bein Adam L'Chavero), specifically regarding damages or insults, the Rambam rules that one must appease the victim and ask for forgiveness. This logic applies to God as well. It is not enough to fix the behavior; one must repair the relationship by acknowledging the offense and asking for pardon.
Viduy as "Hoda'ah" (Admission of Liability)
More than a Story: Confession is not merely recounting facts ("I did X"). It is a legalistic Admission (Hoda'ah).
The Legal Parallel: We can draws a parallel to civil law (Choshen Mishpat). If a person denies a debt, they are exempt from payment in that moment. However, if they admit to the debt (Modeh b'miktzas), they become obligated.
Spiritual Liability: When a person confesses ("I have sinned"), they are admitting liability. They are declaring, "I am responsible, and I have no defense." This admission transforms the individual from someone claiming innocence (or ignoring the debt) to someone who acknowledges God's judgment.
Tziduk HaDin: Justifying the Judgment
Viduy is connected to the concept of Tziduk HaDin—acknowledging that God is righteous in His judgment.
The phrase "You are righteous in all that comes upon us... for You have acted with truth and we have done wickedly" is central to confession.
By admitting that "we have done wickedly," the sinner validates God's right to punish. Paradoxically, by accepting God's strict justice and admitting there are no excuses, the sinner awakens God's mercy. This is because the sinner has aligned their perception with the truth.
The "New" Obligation of Teshuva
The lecture concludes with a profound idea about the transformative power of Repentance.
Moving Domains: Sin stems from a feeling of autonomy—that "I am in charge of myself" (my own domain). Teshuva is the act of transferring oneself back into the "Domain of the King."
The Added Acceptance: A person who has sinned and repents accepts a higher level of obligation than someone who never sinned. The repentance involves a new acceptance of God's sovereignty (Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim) that is stronger and more conscious because it is built upon the rejection of the previous rebellion.
"I am to my Beloved": The acronym for Elul is Ani L'dodi Vi-dodi Li - I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me). The ultimate goal of Yom Kippur is for the person to negate their own ego ("the work of our hands") and completely give themselves over to Hashem, realizing that without Him, they are like an orphan with nothing.
To recap:
Total Reliance: Teshuva requires abandoning reliance on one's own power ("horses") and realizing total dependence on God ("the orphan").
Requesting Pardon: Unlike a simple change of habit, Teshuva requires a verbal request for forgiveness to repair the personal relationship with the Creator.
Admission of Guilt: Confession is a legal admission that validates God's judgment and removes the sinner's defenses.
Surrender of Autonomy: The ultimate return is moving from a state of perceived independence back to total servitude and belonging to God. [הגרחי"ק שליט"א]
